Window shade construction



March 28, 1967 E. BARBOUR WINDOW SHADE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1965 INVENTOR [aA/ara' fiarboar arch 1967 E. BARBOUR 3,311,160

WINDOW SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR M31611 28, BARBOUR WINDOW $HADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll-Ill In I NVENT OR A7TURNE .5

March 28, 1967 BARBOUR 3,311,160

WINDOW SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 8, 1965 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENT OR faward fiarbour W9 F ATTURN 5 3,311,160 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 3,311,160 WINDOW SHADE CONSTRUCTION Edward Barbour, 91-16 34th Ave., Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11372 Filed Dec. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 520,297 1 Claim. (Cl. 160--242) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 281,205, filed May 17, 1963.

This invention relates to the art of window shade construction, and more particularly concerns a self-rolling window shade having an elastic body.

According to the invention, there is provided a window shade which is movable in vertical tracks located at opposite sides of a window frame and extending the full width of the window. The shade can be moved up and down in the tracks and can roll itself up at the top of the tracks. The shade employs no supporting axial roller such as required for conventional window shades. The window shade has a permanently coiled and set plastic roll, which is self-tensioned while the shade is unrolled and disposed in the tracks. When the shade is raised it automatically rolls itself up in a small space out of the way.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a window shade having an elastic sheet permanently wound into a roll and unrollable against tension in the elastic sheet.

7 A further object is to provide a window shade of the character described with straight guide tracks in which the shade can be slidably fitted at a window.

Another object is to provide a window shade of the character described, with a flexible support at the top of a window to facilitate insertion of the roll into place above the tracks and removal of the roll from the window.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a window shade embodying the invention shown installed in a window, part of which is broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing the window shade spring supports and guide tracks.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the window shade shown removed from the window.

FIG. 5 is a front view with parts broken away of window shade shown supported in a pair of separate channel guide members.

FIGS. 6 and 8 are side views of the channel members respectively of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 are side views of two other window shade guide members.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 are enlarged horizontal sectional views taken on lines 1111 and 1313 of FIGS. 10 and 12 respectively.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1414 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of another window shade assembly embodying the invention.

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 are sectional views taken on lines 1616 and 17-17, respectively, of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line I818 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 17 showing the shade in stretched out position.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 17 showing the shade in partially lifted position.

FIG. 21 is a perspective rear view of the window shade of FIGS. 15-20, the shade being shown in stretched out position, and

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a roller and drive gear arrangement employed in the assembly of FIGS. 15-20.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a window shade Ill in the form of a spiral roll 12 of sheet plastic. The roll is made of a suitable material which may be given a permanent coil set, such as a polyester sheet material manufactured by the Du Pont Company of Delaware, under the trademark Mylar. This is a plastic sheet which may be opaque, or translucent in any one of a variety of colors. It has a thickness of about inch. The material is provided in sheets which are cut to desired size, rolled up tightly and heated to a point near but below the melting point while being held in coiled position. The melting point is about 250 C. When the material cools off it has a permanent coil set so that it can be unrolled under tension but it will roll up as soon as it is released. FIG. 4 clearly shows the permanent coil set of the roll 12. At the outer free end of the spiral roll is secured a metal channel bar 11 which serves as a stiffener rib. Attached to this bar near one end close to a lateral edge of the roll is a clamp 14 in which is engaged a looped cord 13 at one point. The cord is engaged slidably on a hook 15 near the upper end of window 16 and on a hook 17 near the lower end of the window at side rail 18. Opposite vertical rails 18, 26' of the wnidow are formed with grooves 22 in which are engaged lateral edges of an unrolled portion of the roll 12. Mounted to the top horizontal rail 24 of the window by screws 25 is a pair of circularly curved leaf springs 26. The roll 12 naturally curls itself into a coil in these springs when the shade is elevated by pulling down on outer portion 27 of cord 13. The shade is lowered by pulling down on rear bottom por. tion 29 depending from clamp 14.

FIG. 5 shows window shade 10 mounted in a pair of individual, separate channel members 30, 32. These members can be attached to opposite sides of window 16a, indicated by dotted lines. The left member 30 is best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. This member includes a straight channel 3 1 with vertical parallel flanges 33a, 33b. Apertured tabs 34 extend laterally from flange 33b. These tabs can receive screws for attaching the member 39' to the left side of the win-dow 16a. Flanges 33a, 33b extend perpendicularly to vertical channel wall 33c which is integral with the flanges. At the top of upper end of the channel 31 is a cylindrical head which is axially deeper than the depth of the channel 31. Theleft end IQ'of the roll 12 will normally be spaced a short distance from the inner side 36 of head 35 as indicated by dotted lines in FIGS. 5 and 7. The upper end of the channel 31 opens into head 35.

Right channel member 32 shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, is constructed like member 31 with a channel 31 having parallel flanges 36a, 33b, vertical wall 330' and mounting tabs 34'. The channel member has a cylindrical head 35' whose bottom end is out free from side wall 36' of the head to define a flexible leaf curved leaf spring 38.

The construction of the channel members described facilitates easy removal of the window shade 10. When the shade is rolled up,'the roll 12 can be pushed axially into the head 35 against wall 36. Then the right end 12" of the roll can be pulled down and out as the flexible spring 38 yields elastically. A cutout 39 is provided at the bottom of head 35 and top of wall 330 to permit the 3 roll in partially unrolled condition to be pushed fully into the head 85.

FIGS. 10-14 show left and right rails 40, 42 which can replace the rails 18, 20 of window 16 shown in FIG. 3. The left rail 40 shown in FIGS. l0, 11 has a vertical groove 22a which receives a lateral edge of the unrolled window to receive the left end 12' of roll 12 normally spaced from wall 43 at the top of the rail. This recess is axially deeper than the groove 22a. A cutout 44 is formed at the top of groove 212a and bottom of the recess to receive the ribbed end of the roll 12 when the roll is pushed axially in the manner described in connection with FIGS. -9 for releasing the roll from the window.

Rail 42 shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 has a straight vertical groove 22b which opposes groove 22a and receives a lateral edge of the unrolled window shade 10. A circular recess 41' is for-med at the upper end of groove 22b. This recess has a depth equal to that of groove 22b. The recess is formed with a right angle lower inside corner 41". An arcuate left spring 45 is secured by screws 46 inside the recess 41' in curvilinear alignment with the cylindrically curved wall of the recess. This spring 45 will yield in the same manner as described in connection with spring 38 to permit the roll 12 to be taken out of engagement with the channel members 40, 42.

FIGS. 1522 illustrate another form of the invention. Window shade assembly 100 has a flexible rectangular shade .102 made of rubber, plastic, leather, cloth or other suitable material. At the rear side of the shade are two flexible spring steel ribs 104, 106 secured by rivets 105. The ribs extend along opposite edges of the shade. Rib

104 is formed with a series of teeth 108. Cross ribs 109 extend between ribs 104, 106 and are secured by rivets 1 10. The entire shade structure between ribs 104, 106 can be enclosed in a decorative cover if desired. Ribs 104, 106 normally tend to keep the shade in a coiled condition.

Ribs 104, 106 are slidably engaged in endless channels or tracks 112, 114 at opposite sides 116, 118 of rectangular frame 125. The frame has cross members 120, 122 at top and bottom joining the vertical sides 1'16, 118. Each of the tracks has a front vertical course 115 and a rear vertical course 117 parallel to course 115. At upper and lower ends the courses communicate with each other by curved loops 119, 121, defining endless tracks.

The shade can be moved manually by grasping one free edge and pulling it up or down. It is also possible and preferred that the mechanical drive structure 1 30 best shown in FIG. 22 be used. This drive structure includes a pulley 132 on which is an endless cord 134. The pulley ,is mounted on one end of shaft 136 which extends across the window frame between the courses .of the tracks. At the other end of the shaft is a gear or sprocket 138 which engages the teeth 108 of rib 106. The cord 134 extends out of a hole 135 in the front wall 113 of the frame. The ends of the shaft extend beyond the pulley and gear and are journaled in holes in lateral end walls 116, .11-8 of the frame.

FIGS. 15-17 show the shade 102 closing the bottom 4 half of the window frame opening. The shade is partially doubled back on itself around track loops 121. FIG. 19 shows the shade closing the entire window frame opening and extending at opposite ends partially into track loops 119, 121'.

FIG. 20 shows the shade 102 closing the upper half of the window frame opening and extending around track loops 119. The shade is partially doubled back on itself. The spring rib structure stiffens the shade and also facilitates its curving to conform to the curvature in the loops of the tracks.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A window shade assembly comprising a generally rectangular pliable plastic sheet coiled into a spiral roll and having a permanent coil set, the roll being unreelable into fiat sheet form while being held under tension, whereby the sheet will elastically roll up into coil form when released, a stilfener rib attached to the outer free end of the coil, vertical grooved members slidably engaging lateral edges of an unrolled portion of the roll, cylindrically curved elements enclosing and rotatably supporting said roll at opposite ends thereof, upper ends of said members being open to said elements, whereby said roll rolls itself up into a coil in said elements when said unrolled portion is raised in the grooved members, at least one of said elements being an arcuately curved leaf spring which yields elastically to permit disengaging said roll from said elements, the other of said elements having an axial depth which is greater than the depth of the grooves in said members to permit said roll to be shifted axially into said other element and facilitate disengagement of the roll from said elements, said grooved members being separate channel bars attachable to opposite sides of said window, said elements being cylindrical heads integral with said bars, and integral perforated tabs on the channel bars for attaching the bars to supporting surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,061 2/1907 Baker -41 X 1,468,832 9/1923 Parsons 160-321 X 1,634,303 7/ 1927 Scheller 160-271 2,337,715 12/1943 Hall 160-294 2,361,762 10/1944 Glenn et al. 160-23 2,575,128 1'1/1951 Renzetti 160-28 2,772,731 12/1956 Korba 160-28 2,856,995 10/1958 Roth 160-267 3,195,616 7/1965 Taber 160-238 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

-P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

